Tools
How much runway does your search need?
Searches die quietly when the money clock beats the deal clock. This is the stage-3 arithmetic: fund more months than feels fair, ring-fence the deal costs, and add a buffer you hopefully never touch.
Living costs
$108,000
18 months at $6,000
Deal war chest
$75,000
Clusters late — when walking away hurts most
Buffer
$27,450
15% on top of everything
Runway to raise or save
$210,450
Before the search starts, not during it
Educational, not financial advice. Pairs with Stage 3: Set up & fund the search and the SBA acquisition calculator.